Grof® Breathwork: Homecoming

Imagine returning to a place where your deepest inner landscape can finally be witnessed and held—where breath becomes a portal to expanded consciousness, and you emerge transformed. Grof® Breathwork: Homecoming invites you into a profound three-day journey at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, the very birthplace of this revolutionary practice. Developed in the 1980s by Stanislav and Christina Grof, holotropic breathwork uses accelerated breathing, evocative music, and supported somatic release to catalyze healing, insight, and spiritual awakening. This December 4–6, 2026 workshop offers a rare opportunity to engage with the practice in its original context, guided by Marianne Murray—a facilitator trained directly by Stanislav Grof in the 1990s.

Whether you've been called to breathwork for years or are encountering it for the first time, this workshop honors both the newcomer and the returning seeker. The ocean cliffs, redwood groves, and contemplative silence of Big Sur create a container of natural grace, amplifying the inner work you'll undertake. Over three days, you'll move through accelerated breathing sessions lasting approximately three hours each, accessing non-ordinary states of consciousness where the body's own wisdom can emerge, release, and integrate. This is not a passive experience—it is active, embodied, and profoundly safe.

What to Expect

Friday evening begins with comprehensive preparation, establishing the foundations of the practice and grounding you in safety protocols. You'll then move into the heart of the workshop: alternating between two essential roles. First, you become the breather—lying down with eyes closed, breathing rapidly to evocative music, allowing whatever arises (emotions, visions, sensations, memories) to move through you without resistance. Later, you serve as a sitter—offering compassionate, non-judgmental witnessing to another's process, a role that deepens both your empathy and your own integration.

Between breathwork sessions, you'll move through integration practices: group reflection circles where experience is honored, gentle movement classes, and unstructured time to wander Big Sur's healing landscape. By the weekend's end, you'll have accessed expanded states of consciousness, released what no longer serves you, and cultivated a direct relationship with your own inner healer.

Venue & Logistics

This workshop takes place at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California—a legendary sanctuary perched on dramatic coastal cliffs. The retreat runs Friday, December 4 through Sunday, December 6, 2026. Wear comfortable, loose clothing you can move and breathe freely in. Bring a journal and an open heart. If you have physical limitations or health concerns, contact the organizers in advance.